Won't somebody please think of those who lost their seats?

Thu, May 12, 2016

Healy Eames and O’Mahony,
And Keaveney and Walsh,

Are Independents a handicap to Government formation?

Thu, May 05, 2016

Insider noted the recent political musings of Ryanair Supremo, Michael O’Leary with interest, and how he laid the blame for the delay in the formation of a government with the result the electorate delivered, and not the politicians.

New government or none, the EU still calls the shots

Thu, Apr 28, 2016

The most amusing observation concerning February's General Election results came from a satirical website. It ran a shock headline claiming health officials were deeply worried about a sharp rise in Alzheimer’s among the Irish population, as indicated by the doubling of support for Fianna Fáil.

Galway secures three Seanad seats, but could win more

Thu, Apr 28, 2016

Three Galwegians have secured seats in the Seanad Éireann, with victories for Alice Mary Higgins, Sinn Féin's Trevor Ó Clochartaigh and Independent Ronán Mullen. However, with the count ongoing, more could join them.

Keaveney's political career not over despite Seanad loss

Thu, Apr 28, 2016

Despite his failure to win a seat in both the Dáil and Seanad Éireann elections, the failure of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil to form a government means the controversial Colm Keaveney's political career is by no means over.

1916 - don’t believe everything they tell you

Thu, Mar 24, 2016

The 1916 Rising did not end on April 29 when Pádraig Pearse issued the order to surrender. Many are still fighting it, or, to be more accurate, fighting against it, and, as with any war, the first and most prolonged casualty is the truth.

Keep the election posters close at hand

Wed, Mar 16, 2016

As the dust settles on Election 2016, we have a political landscape unlike any seen since the 1950s. The days of the two and a half party system ended in 2011, but further fragmentation of the political landscape sees seven parties and a large number of Independents occupy the 32nd Dáil.

Next time, Trevor, next time

Thu, Mar 10, 2016

He lives in an area regarded as having too small a population to elect him to the Dáil. Personally popular, there are people who will never vote for him because of the party to which he belongs. He has a name monoglot English speakers struggle to spell. There are whispers that there might be better or more deserving candidates within the party.

Three new councillors to be co-opted

Thu, Mar 10, 2016

Within the next two weeks, Galway will have three new councillors, with co-options on to the Galway city and county councils to take place following the election to the Dáil of councillors Catherine Connolly, Sean Canney, and Anne Rabbitte.

Sinn Fein or Labour for final seat in Galway West?

Thu, Feb 25, 2016

According to the local pundits, the final seat in Galway West is looking like a straight battle between Sinn Féin and Labour. So will Connemara senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh take the seat held by city based TD Derek Nolan? Insider believes the outcome is too close to call but a look at the race raises some interesting questions.

Alice-Mary Higgins to run for Seanad

Thu, Feb 25, 2016

Galwaywoman Alice-Mary Higgins is to run as an Independent candidate in the Seanad elections.Ms Higgins, daughter of President Michael D and his wife Sabina, has taken an unpaid leave of absence from the National Women’s Council of Ireland, where she works as a policy co-ordinator, to run as a civil society candidate on the NUI panel.

Climate change and the election

Thu, Feb 18, 2016

For as long as Insider can remember, early January was the time for our one major storm in Galway, but since November we have had nine such storms. Met Éireann has even begun devising names for future storms. It is a sign of the times to come.

Galway can lead the State in voting for change this month

Thu, Feb 11, 2016

Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael/Labour governments are known quantities. The civil service really runs the State, using elected politicians as spokesmen - and it is usually men - and change comes at a snail’s pace. As soon as one of the parties get too big for its boots, we switch to the other, and the cycle continues.

Votes will be counted in NUIG and New Inn

Thu, Feb 11, 2016

The fate of Galway’s politicians will be decided by the voters on Friday February 26, but the decisions will be known over the weekend when the results are counted in NUI Galway and New Inn.

Will Galway, and Ireland, go Left?

Thu, Feb 04, 2016

A lot has been written in the run-up to the Election 2016 about which parties will make up the next government. Will Enda Kenny get another five years? Could Sinn Féin and Fianna Fáil form a coalition? Or could Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael put Civil War politics aside and go in together?

Call for Galway voters to support female candidates in the election

Thu, Feb 04, 2016

Galway’s dismal record in electing only two woman to Dáil Éireann since the foundation of the State, has prompted Women for Election to call on voters in all three Galway constituencies to support female candidates this time around.

Catherine Connolly to launch General Election campaign

Mon, Feb 01, 2016

Independent left city councillor Catherine Connolly will formally launch her Election 2016 campaign this evening at 8.30pm in the Park Hotel, where the guest speaker will be poet and activist Sarah Clancy.

Male rural TDs to rule Galway city?

Thu, Jan 21, 2016

Could it be possible that after the General Election Galway city would have no political representation in the Dail? Yes, it is, and it would appear to Insider that three of the main political parties – Fine Gael, Fianna Fail, and Sinn Féin – intend it to be that way.

Catherine Connolly - poised to win in Galway West?

Tue, Jan 19, 2016

Catherine Connolly came agonisingly close to winning a seat in the 2011 General Election, but five years on, with Labour's decline and despite the rise of Sinn Féin, will 2016 finally be the year she makes it into Dáil Éireann?

Countdown to Election 2016 - the state of the parties

Thu, Jan 14, 2016

As we approach the middle of January, all eyes in the political world turned to what promises to be a hectic political year in 2016. At its heart is the General Election, shortly to be called, but we will also see elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly, a possible referendum on Britain's EU membership, and a period of commemorations to mark the centenary of the Easter Rising.

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